About the Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program

Please review the program eligibility details and application instructions below. The next application deadline is due July 30, 2023.

What is the program?

The Office of Municipal and School Technology (OMST) administers the Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program (MCAGP) to improve cybersecurity posture through end-user training, evaluation, and threat simulation.

Information about the program tracks:

We’ve modified the training track offerings for 2023 to better serve participating organizations. Each track delivers trainings and threat simulations (phishing campaigns). 

• Year-Long Training Track - Our most popular training track, which runs from January through December. 

• Abbreviated Training Track Option 1 – This track is a shortened version of the Year-Long Training Track and will take place from January through May.  

• Abbreviated Training Track Option 2 – This track is a shortened version of the Year-Long Training Track and will take place from September through December.

Why use the program?

The program promotes overall cybersecurity posture through evaluation, end-user training, and threat simulation. The Executive Office of Technology Services and Security's (EOTSS) Office of Municipal and School Technology procures and manages the program – making the program free to participating organizations.

We encourage you to watch a short video to hear what participating organizations are saying about our cybersecurity training.

Who is eligible?

The 2023 MCAGP is open to government agencies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

• Municipalities
• Public school districts
• Libraries
• Police departments and fire departments
• Water districts
• Planning commissions
• Municipally-run utility departments, airports, and housing authorities
• Massachusetts Public Pension Systems (PERAC)

Employees in municipal functions that have a government network-specific domain, including municipal administration, school, and public safety officials, are eligible to participate. 

OMST will award grants only to those municipalities and school districts that demonstrate support from top leadership, and commit to ensuring staff complete the training exercises throughout the duration of the program. Each participating municipality or school district must designate a local coordinator to assist our team with administering this program. This person will need to spend approximately two hours per week to successfully oversee local participation in the program.

Where can I learn more?

 Informational sessions were held in October to provide more details on the MCAGP and to answer any questions the organizations had during the session. Should you have any inquiries about the program, please email [e-mail].

The recording is available here:

View transcript 

How to apply

Municipalities and school districts apply to participate in the grant program through a competitive application process each fall. Program costs are covered by EOTSS. OMST monitors municipal and school participation in the program by issuing regular progress reports, communicating regularly with the designated Local Coordinator(s) on program action items, and holding office hours to answer questions and concerns. 

To apply, please complete the Abbreviated Option 2 Training Track application by July 30, 2023.  We are no longer accepting applications for the Year-Long and Abbreviated Option 1 Training Tracks.   

Apply for the program 

Next steps

Municipalities and school districts are accepted into the grant program on a rolling basis after the application period opens. The application period will close when all available seats are taken or July 30th, whichever occurs first.

Review Process

The staff at the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security will review applications based on factors such as: 

• A commitment to prioritizing cybersecurity awareness training
• Commitment to improving the community's cybersecurity posture
• A willingness to collaborate and help gain a better understanding of cybersecurity posture in communities across the Commonwealth
• Willingness to identify an individual who will oversee and monitor program participation